The San Francisco 49ers are one of the NFL’s front-running contenders for the Super Bowl championship, and the biggest reason why is their defense.
They led the league in points and total yards allowed in 2022, and they boast a suffocating, hard-hitting defense that their opponents have a hard time penetrating.
One of the big stars of San Francisco’s defense is middle linebacker Fred Warner, and Pro Football Focus put him in their top tier of NFL linebackers.
The Tier 1 NFL LBs, per @TampaBayTre pic.twitter.com/ZHhw7OxAS7
— PFF (@PFF) June 6, 2023
Last season, Warner registered 130 combined tackles (79 solo) and 10 passes defended, and he was one of three 49ers defenders who was named to both the Pro Bowl and All-Pro first-team.
The other two were safety Talanoa Hufanga and defensive end Nick Bosa, who was also named the Defensive Player of the Year.
Warner, like Hufanga, is one of several lower draft picks who have turned into stars for the Niners, as he was a third-round draft choice in 2018.
Their defense could become better this fall and winter thanks to the addition of defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who had 11 sacks in 2022 and made the Pro Bowl the previous season.
In addition, they appear to have another budding star on defense in linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who had 127 tackles (82 solo) last season.
San Francisco, of course, has to figure out who will start at quarterback, as incumbent starter Brock Purdy is recovering from a torn UCL in his throwing elbow.
If he isn’t ready to play in Week 1, it will be an opportunity for Trey Lance, who began 2022 as the starter, to regain the QB1 spot.
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